Product Description

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Reporter Moira Harrisons is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she's startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement--and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road.

Publisher's Description

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Reporter Moira Harrisons is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she's startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement--and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road.

A dazed Moira is relieved when a man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then everything fades to black. When she comes to an hour later, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person lying on the side of the road. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on the person's face in the instant before her headlights swung away. The person she hit had been in trouble. She's sure of it. But she can't get anyone to believe her story--except a handsome former police detective, now a private eye, who agrees to take on the case.

From the very first page, readers will be hooked into this fast-paced story full of shocking secrets from fan-favorite Irene Hannon. Vanished is the exciting first book in the Private Justice series: Three justice seekers who got burned playing by the rules now have a second chance to make things right.

Author Bio

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Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri.

For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.

Publishers Weekly

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In the first of her new Private Justice series, Hannon (Deadly Pursuit) introduces us to Moira Harrison, a Pulitzer-nominated reporter who finds herself in the midst of her own mystery after an automobile accident she is involved in leaves her searching for a victim who has vanished. Harrison turns for help to Cal Burke, a retired homicide detective who has partnered with Jim Devlin, a former undercover ATF officer, and Connor Sullivan, an ex-Secret Service agent, to establish Phoenix Inc., a detective agency where the pursuit of justice seems to trump either the viability of a case or a clients ability to pay. Intrigued by strange coincidences she has uncovered, the PIs agree to take on Harrisons case despite the lack of solid leads. Details emerge slowly, creating a suspenseful thriller that allows the reader to develop theories along with the detectives. Romantic tension underlies Harrisons and Burkes relationship from the moment they meet, but the mystery remains central to the well-crafted plot. Hannons intricately developed characters struggle with complex moral issues, bringing into question whether the ends ever do justify the means. An engaging, satisfying tale that will no doubt leave readers anxiously anticipating the next installment. (Jan.) 2012 Reed Business Information

Finding herself lost on a dark, desolate country road, Moira Harrison finds herself in the middle of a nightmare after hitting a woman who appeared suddenly in the middle of the road. Not only does Moira not know if the woman is injured- or worse yet killed- Moira finds herself in need of help after wrecking her vehicle while trying to avoid colliding with the woman. A man comes to her rescue- or so she thinks- before she loses consciousness. Upon awakening, however, she discovers that she is alone and that both the woman and the mysterious man have disappeared. When the police are skeptical about the accident, Moira seeks the help of Cal Burke, private investigator and widower. With very little evidence and a trail that seems to have grown cold, Moira and Cal seek to find the truth about the identities and fates of the two people Moira encountered at the wreck site. But as pieces of the puzzle surface, Moira and Cal have even more questions and, eventually, uncover a disturbing web of deceit, misguided intentions, and calculated murder.

This was my first read by Hannon, and I have to say- even though the identity of the mystery man was apparent pretty early in the story and the source of the "donations" to the charity fund were also a bit predictable- the unexpected twist of Moira's fate was appealing. I felt the danger and intensity of the rescue sequence to the point I felt my own heart racing at times! It was also sweet reading how Moira and Cal's relationship progressed as Cal came to terms with his past.

This review contains my own thoughts and opinions. I have not been compensated for this review in any way.

This is the first book by Irene Hannon that I've read but it won't be the last. I was drawn in from the very beginning. Imagine a reporter, Moira Harrison, trying to find her way home from an interview in a terrible rainstorm complete with thunder and lightening. She gets lost and has a hard time traveling along a lonely strength of road when suddenly a woman darts in front of her car waving her arms with terror clearly in her eyes. Moira slams on her brakes but hears a thud on the side of her car and continues to skid until her car lands up against a tree. A man with a dark hooded jacket opens her car door to see if she is OK. He mentions something about seeing blood and glass on her passenger side of the car. She feels a prick on her thigh thinking she's rolled over on some of the glass. The stranger tells her to stay in the car, he'll check on the woman she saw and will call 911. Moira wakes an hour later in her car to find no stranger, no woman she thought she hit, nothing. All she can think about is the eyes of the terrified woman. What happened to her? The police are no help so she consults a private detective firm to help her find some answers. There are several layers to the story that involve a prominent pediatric surgeon, children in a medical clinic in another country, elderly patients in nursing homes and a young teens anguish over pleasing his father while knowing in his heart what's right VS wrong. This was a quick read for me in spite of the fact it was over 300 pages. I could not put it down.

Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter Moira Harrison, lost in a blinding rainstorm after dark, suddenly sees a terrified figure in her headlights. Slamming on the brakes, she tries to avoid the person, but loses control of her car. She feels the impact and then careens into the woods, finally striking a tree to come to a crashing stop.

Shaken, she knows she must call 911 to help the person she struck and to report the accident. A man appears at her car door to find out if shes okaythen tells her theres glass on the seatto be careful while he brushes it off. Shifting in the seat, she feels the glass penetrate her thigh. The man tells her that he will look for the person and call 911. Then her world goes black.

When she comes to, she is aloneno emergency vehicles are there. She makes her way to the road, but the person she struck has vanishedonly skid marks remain. She cant convince the police who respond to her call that there was a personin fact, she cant convince anyone. Moira cant forget the look of terror in the womans eyes, though, and so she decides to see if a private detective firm will take the case. Reluctantly, the ex-homicide detective turned private eye decides to investigate.

As clues begin to surface, they find that someone doesnt want the case solvedand will go to any lengths to prevent them from doing so. You will want to help Moira and Cal Burke, the handsome P.I. assisting her to find the solution. A great read - you'll want the entire series!

Irene Hannon is the author of several action-mystery series including The Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice. This, the first of the Private Justice novels, is a worthy addition. Hannon has more than 40 novels to her name, two RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America, a National Readers Choice Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award. More information about Irene is available on her website, www.IreneHannon.com.

This was the first time to read any of Irene Hannon's work and I am hooked I loved "Vanished" and compare Ms. Hannon's work as good as Dee Henderson's. A thrill ride of suspense on every page. Loved it and will be getting the second in this series.